Chapter VI

ECLIPSE OF CONGRESS PARTY AND EMERGENCE

OF DRAVIDIAN PARTIES

The Government of India announced to hold the fourth General

elections of Tamil Nadu during February 19671

. This election brought

remarkable changes in the political leadership in the State from Indian

National Congress to Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.2

Bhakthavatsalam met with

disastrous defeat though he had longest innings in the Congress Ministry. His

unimaginative handling of the anti-Hindi agitation made the Congress to loose

its hold among the masses. Following the anti-Hindi agitation, Tamil Nadu

faced one of its worst food crisis in 1966 and this too made the Congress

Ministry more and more unpopular and became weak.3

Decline of Congress Power

The Congress Government was bewildered dwindled due to the great

upheaval of the anti-Hindi agitation organised by the opposition parties in the

state. Along with this, the new more problems confronted by them was the

decline of industrial grants due to the new industrial policies perpetuated by

the national Government. Accordingly, the state of Tamil Nadu loosing further

grants of industries as it had already got its national share.4 Besides these, the

important sources of hydel power generation too was in the verge of

insufficiency to meet out the needs for the industries and general consumption

under the bad situation, the national crisis in the food production and its

1 Indian Express, 22 September 1966, p.1.

2 The Hindu, 25 January 1967, p.7.

3 Narendra Subramanian, Ethnicity and Populist Mobilization, New Delhi, 1991, p.187.

4 Ibid., p.191.

195

distribution hit Tamil Nadu from 1964 to 1967 had affected the State’s rice

bowl.5 Now the opposition parties, especially the DMK’s discourse about the

situation had brought an adverse impact upon the general masses against the

Government. They charged the Congress Party that the Nehruvian economic

strategy was irrelevant to the needs of the middle and lower income groups.6

When the economic life of the people was needing under lowest ebb, the

D.M.K. party came for their rescue and asked the Government to reduce the

prices of the commodities in the fair shops considerably. They challenged them

that if their party come to power their ministers would work without payment

till their electoral promises were fulfilled.7 The people of Tamil Nadu too got

much more frustration over the Government as they had the intention of

implementing Hindi stage by stage in the state.8 Though the anti-Hindi

agitation movement got victory it was vehement only in Tamil Nadu and not on

the other states. Hence the Government was not with the plan of suspending

Hindi in the state permanently, but only for the time being aimed at

implementing the anti-Hindi policy. Soon after getting a chance it would be

implemented.9 In the competitive exam conducted by the centres too it was not

ordered to change the mode of the exam and the recruiting board was

conducting the exam as usual. Therefore the people were not in a position to

believe the Government and they gathered behind the atmosphere of the

opposition parties.10

The political changes brought out in the administration of the State

Congress Government also contributed for the defeat of the Congress Party.

5 M.L.A.D., Vol. XXXIII, 1965, p.103.

6 Ibid, Vol.LXIX, 1966, p.580.

7 The Hindu, 15 December 1966.

8 T.N.L.C.D., Vol LXXXI, 1969, p.216.

9 Ramaswamy, A., Rathathil Iyampathu Natkal, Madurai, 1973, pp.22-23.

10 M.L.A.D., Vol .XXIX, 1965, p.614.

196

During the crisis Kamaraj relinquished the Chief Minister’s post and became

the President of the All India Congress party in 1964, as part of a plan to

revitalise the party organisation in response to strong challenges emerging in

many regions, including Tamil Nadu.11

The state party and Government

suffered heavily because of the removal of Kamaraj’s immediate transfer.

M.Bhaktavatsalam, the new substitute of Kamaraj as the Chief Minister, was

not like his predecessor lacked organisational skill. Though he was

descended from an upper caste of Tondaimandala Vellala was known to be

corrupt and distrustful of Tamil nationalist opinion.12

The Tamil Congress’s

cohesion declined further under his leadership, which symbolised for many

Congress men to distance.

Apart from the political sphere, the scarcity of food grains affected the

congress Ministry. The State Government responded to the food crisis by

restricting the transport of food grains to other places and procured it from

the farmers for distribution in ration shops at low prices.13

The imposition of

these restraints with great severity, harassing even stopped people carrying

small amounts of rice for consumption. Nevertheless, many black marketers

circumvented over the Government’s levy and hence the rice supplies dwindled

and food rationing was close to a breakdown by 1967.14

The over levy on food

grains also alienated farmers, who attacked procurement officials in some

places. These problems outraged even many Congress sympathisers, especially

as less wheat was sent to Tamil Nadu and millets were diverted to other states

11

The Hindu, 11 February 1967, 11 March 1967. 12

Narendra Subramanian, op,cit., p.193. 13

M.L.C.D, Vol. LXI, 1965, p.386. 14

Indian Express, 4 February 1967, p.3.

197

in the midst of this crisis.15

The DMK protested the failures in food provision

by demonstrating in front of ration shops.

The language agitations across the state, had shacked the strongest

Congress strongholds like Madurai, Tirunelveli and Coimbatore. These

agitations had aroused the sentiments among them and helped DMK’s growth

in these regions. The DMK party gained a much out of these agitations who

drew people’s main inspiration through the party’s discourse.16

Besides these,

most of the leaders participated in the agitation were grown and became the

second-rung DMK Leaders.17

The Congress regime’s failures in food

distribution was ultimately more costly than its unpopularity on language

demands.18

The Congress Party leaders were of the assumption that their party had

still got the confidence of the public under the image of Kamaraj and of his

able administration would bring their victory in the forth coming general

election of 1967. However under the critical situation, the opposition parties

left no stone unturned in their effort to defeat the Congress coming to

power.19

Their propaganda on anti-Governmental policies and irresponsible

administrations minimised the image of the Congress party among the

masses. Eventually the DMK emerged as the major challenge to the Congress

Party in Tamil Nadu and atlast their defeat in the general election of 1967 had

sealed their fate and paved the way for the thriving of regional-Dravidian

parties in Tamil Nadu20

15

Ibid., 13 February 1967, p.2. 16

The Mail, 21 December 1966. 17

Narendra Subramanian, op.cit., p.194. 18

Sattanathan, A.N., The Dravidian Movement in Tamil Nadu and its Legacy, Madras 1982, p.86. 19

Ganesan. P.C., C.N. Annadurai, New Delhi, 2003, p.95. 20

Report of the Mid-Term Governal Elections In India, 1968-1969, Vol.I, p.170.

198

Emergence of Dravidian Party

The deep root of the Dravidian movement in Tamil Nadu traced back to

the Brahmin and Non-Brahmin conflicts. Hence along with the spirit of Non-

Brahmin organisation, anti Brahmin wave was raged in the Tamil Nadu

politics. Consequently when the Bhaktavatsalam Ministry had gone towards

worst political crisis, the people rallied under the D.M.K. party and believed

that they were the saviour of the occasion and gave them a chance.21

It slowly

felt the pulse and the mood of the political ideas of Tamil Nadu, which was

slowly leaving the antiquity of the national sentimental environment.22

The

North and South political philosophy began to go deep into the political steam

of Tamil Nadu electoral politics.23

The DMK was founded only as a cultural

organisation. Hence the principle of DMK aimed at promoting Tamil language

and culture. Consequently the increasing strength of the party led to its

involvement in the State politics. The political strategy of the DMK was anti-

Congressism. So irrespective of ideologies, the DMK had poll alliances with

the Communist Party of India and the Swatantra Party to overthrow the

Congress Party from power.24

The technique used by the DMK against the Congress rule was

addressing to the people from public platforms. The party prepared a list of

special orators who were called porvaals.25

The party activists chose speakers

from the list for public meetings. These ‘porvaals’ used to write articles on

common problems and served as a bridge between the people and the

21

Ramasamy, A., op.cit., p.185. 22

Ibid., p.187. 23

Palanithurai, Caste Politics and Society in Tamil Nadu, Delhi, 1994, p.38. 24

Jana Sakthi Ponvizha Malar, 1937-87, Madras, 1987, p.24. 25

Veerachamy, R. Porvaal, (war knives), (Tamil), Madras, 1958, p.11.

199

organisation.26

They created awareness in the State against the Congress

Government. The first and foremost techniques of the DMK was to make their

party men to involve in their party men’s functions and making it as a family

function. They considered C.N. Annadurai as their elder brother in the Party

organisation and called him Arignar Anna. The brother culture developed by

the party was an intimate relationships within the organisation.27

In the 1967, election, the DMK did not hesitate to give the ground

promises to the electorates. The food scarcity, the economic crisis, the

spiraling of prices, the non-availability of a steel plant in Tamil Nadu formed

the main theme of Anna’s election propaganda. Several parties came on a

common platform. Swatantra Party leader Rajaji, Muslim League leader

Mohamed Ismail, Forward Block leader Mookaiya Thevar, Thamizharasu

Kazhagam leader M.P. Sivagnanam, Nam Tamilar leader S.P. Adityan, Left

Communist Party leader M.R.Venkataraman and the DMK leaders including

Anna assembled on a common platform challenging congress for a trial of

strength at the polls.28

The DMK election manifesto promised good Governance and clean and

efficient administration. It promised to give the land to the tiller and to set up

a land army to increase food production, to bring down the spiraling prices and

make consumer goods cheaper, to give primary position to Tami Language in

the administration of the state and to protect the regional and cultural interest of

the State.29

The Manifesto took to task the Congress administration for its

errors of omission and commission, for its imprudent policy of investing huge

sums of money in big projects and the consequent tax burden which ultimately

26

Ganesan, P.C., op.cit., p.65. 27

Singaram, I., DMK – Relationship Between Leaders and Members, New Delhi, 1996, p.31. 28

Ganesan, .P.C., op.cit., p.67. 29

Balakrishnan, N., History of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, 1944-1977, Madurai, 1985, p.157.

200

was passed on to the common man. Special emphasise was made in the

manifesto in giving relief to the agriculturists and for setting up a smaller

fertiliser plants which would help food production in the long run.30

The

manifesto made a plea for the introduction of all the fourteen languages of the

country as the media in the Union Public Commission examinations so that the

non-Hindi speaking people may not feel handicapped.31

Annadurai’s promise of

“a measure of rice for a rupee” (Padi Arisi Thittam) 32

captivated the poor

masses who were worst affected by spiraling prices.33

The DMK stood for

socialistic scheme for the economic system with its attractive slogans like “One

sees god in the smiles of the Poor.”34

Dravidians within Indian Union,

safeguarded Dravidian culture and propagated it to the rest of the country.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam promised of debt relief to the poor and middle

class particularly in the rural areas.35

In a public meeting at Tuticorin C.N.

Annadurai, General Secretary of the DMK, appealed the people “to give them a

chance”.36

Under Kamaraj, the Congress leaders on the other hand, organised

public meetings and tried to counter the opposition charges at all levels and in

the meeting at Nagercoil, Kamaraj remarked. Voting opposition to power is the

suicidal of democratic socialism.37

He dubbed the communists as traitors. T.T.

Krishnamachary sarcastically stated that the “DMK lacks maturity to run the

Government.38

30

Ramanujan, K.S., Big Change, Madras, 1967, p.3. 31

Ganesan, P.C., op.cit., p.68. 32

M.L.C.D, Vol. XIII, 1968, p.404. 33

Indian Express, 2 January 1967, p.1. 34

Ramachandran, S. , Anna Speaks, Madras, 1975, pp.6-18. 35

The Hindu, 2 January 1967, p.7. 36

Indian Express, 30 January 1967, p.8. 37

The Hindu, 2 Feb 1967, p.7. 38

Ibid., 30 January 1967, p.6.

201

Fourth General Election

The Congress Party was confronted with severe criticisms on all sides.

The students, labourers, agriculturists, middle classes, and educated wanted to

bring a change in the Tamil Nadu politics. Under the critical situation the

Fourth General Election took place in 1967.39

For the fourth general election

the Government increased the number of Assembly constituencies from 206 to

234 and reduced the parliamentary constituencies from forty one to thirty

nine.40

In the Assembly constitution 775 candidates contested and 127

candidates contested for the Lok Sabha seats.41

C.N. Annadurai announced the

names of 169 party candidates for the State Assembly and eighteen candidates

for parliament.42

From the D.M.K. alliance allotted the following seats for the

allied parties for the Assembly seats as follows: thirty for Swatantra and

Forward Block43

twenty for Left Communists, four for Muslim League, four for

Praja Socialist party and two for Tamilzharasu Kazhagam. It reserved four

seats for S.B. Adityan and his nominees. The Tamil Nadu Toilers Welfare

Party contested for twenty Assembly seats and three parliament seats.44

Supported by Dravida Kazhagam the Congress Party contested almost all the

seats.45

The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee allotted one lakh rupees for each

district towards election fund.46

Prominent Congress leaders like T.T.

Krishnamachari and Lal Bahadur Sastri did election propaganda.

C.N.Annadurai who contested for the Lok Sabha from South Madras was

opposed by the Congress candidate K.Gurumurthy, the labour leader.47

39

Report of the Fourth General Election, Vol. III , Madras, 1967, p.375. 40

Indian Express, 24 September 1965, p.3. 41

The Hindu, 25 January 1967, p.7. 42

Ibid., 3 January 1967, p.1 43

Murthi, R.K., Rajaji: Life and Work, New Delhi, 1979, p.124. 44

The Hindu,10 January 1967, p.8. 45

Ibid., 12 February 1967, p.7. 46

Bhargave, B.S., After Nehru, New Delhi,1966, p.33. 47

Ibid., 10 January 1967, p.7.

202

K.Kamaraj who contested from the Virudhunagar constituency was opposed

by Sreenivasan, a student leader and a D.M.K candidate. Bhaktavatsalam, the

Chief Minister, contested from the Sriperumpudur constituency. The election

held on February 1967. The State announced election results on the 23rd

of

February 1967. The Congress faced major setback in Tamil Nadu and lost its

hold and voice. It secured only forty nine seats in the election whereas the

opposition party under Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam alliance got 181 seats.48

Swatantra Party got twenty seats, Left Communist - eleven, right Communist –

two, Samyukka Socialist Party – two, Muslim League– three, Praja Socialist –

four,49

Independents – three and Forward bloc – one seat.50

The D.M.K. as a single majority party among opposition parties,

captured all 25 seats to Lok Sabha. K.Kamaraj was defeated by a D.M.K

student leader P.Srinivasan with a difference of 2,000 votes. M.Bhaktavatsalam

also was defeated by a D.M.K. candidate.51

Thus, born in 1949, the D.M.K as a

political party attained maturity in a period of 18 years under the able

leadership of Annadurai, “the elder brother”.52

The alliance forged by the

D.M.K had got 48.6% votes as against congress which secured 41.2%. Thus

Tamil Nadu has shown the way not only to regional politics but also to politics

of alliance for the first time in India.53

D.M.K obtained an absolute majority

and the congress Ministry submitted its resignation on 23 February 1967.54

48

Bharathy Manokaran, R, Arasiyal Arignar Anna, (Tamil), Chennai, 1998, p.83. 49

Report of the Fourth General Election, Vol.III, Madras, 1967, p.375. 50

Murthi, R.K., op.cit., p.124. 51

Verinder Grover (ed), Election and Politics in India, New Delhi, 1988, p.140. 52

Thandavan, .R, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam , Madras, 1987, p. 33. 53

Ramanujan, K.S.; op.cit., p.53. 54

Indian Express, 24 February 1967, p.1.

203

C.N.Annadurai’s Ministry

For the D.M.K the choice for the Chief Ministership was obvious.

Though elected to the Lok Sabha Annadurai formed the non-Brahmin

Government in Tamil Nadu. His Ministry took office on 6 March 1967.55

It

was a meteoric rise for him from his humble beginning from the weaver town

of Conjeevaram to an eminent stature as Chief Minister in the historic Fort

St.George at Madras. His assumption of office opened a new vista in the

political history of Tamil Nadu.56

The first two years after DMK assumed power witnessed the

implementation of few measures fulfilling their electoral promises. Periyar

E.V.R. had opposed the DMK till it came to power, but was convinced

subsequently. When D.M.K. got victory in the 1967 election, Annadurai did

not rush to meet Rajagopalachariar, who was instrumental in forming the

seven-party combine against the congress; but rushed to Periyar seeking his

blessings. Periyar said that he would not oppose Annadurai if he would

implement the needy measures.57

On 14 April 1967 Annadurai unveiled the

name board of the State secretariat in Tamil as “Tamilaga Arasu” was a

notable measure during Annadurai’s regime.58

On 18 April 1967 the resolution

for the change of the name into Tamil Nadu was introduced in the Legislative

Assembly and it was passed on 23 November 1967.59

On 14 January 1968,

Madras State was renamed as Tamil Nadu which appeared the fulfillment of

his great ambition.60

55

Fortnightly Report, 7 March 1969. 56

Ganesan, .P.C., op.cit., p.69. 57

Parthasarathy, T.M., op.cit., p.486. 58

Ibid., p.162. 59

Tamilnadu Legislative Assembly Quadrennial Review 1967-70, Government of

Tamil Nadu, Madras, 1971, p.63. 60

T.N.S.A.R., 1968-69, p.29.

204

Social Reforms under Annadurai

Soon after assuming power Annadurai brought several social reform in

the state. As a first social measure, he had introduced Self-Respect marriages

by passing a bill in the Legislative Assembly on 28 November.61

The self-

Respect marriages conducted before the act were also granted legal

recognition. Gold-medal policy was introduced for the purpose of encouraging

inter-caste marriages. Forty eight couples received gold medal during 1968-

69.62

His period witnessed the Second World Tamil Conference held in

Madras in 1968. From the fund of the World Tamil Conference, Research

centres on Tirukkural was founded in the Universities of Madras, Annamalai

and Madurai Kamaraj University.63

One Litre Rice for One Rupee Scheme

One litre rice scheme was announced during the 1967 election manifesto

by C.N. Annadurai. This scheme was expanded in many places, and at various

stages, nearly 45 lakhs of people benefitted through this scheme. In May 1967

this scheme was introduced in Chennai, 30 lakhs people were benefitted. In the

second stage it was supplied on 10 July in Coimbatore and Chennai, at Harijan

Students Hostels, Government Hostels, urban organisations and hospitals.

Thirdly, it was distributed in 47 cities near Chennai. Six lakhs people were

benefitted. Through the family card system, 124 lakhs of people received rice

of the whole in Tamil Nadu.64

The DMK administration introduced double

language policy. In colleges Tamil medium was introduced. Free education

61

M.L.A.D., Vol. XII, 1967, p.283. 62

Bharathy Manokaran, R., op.cit., p.112. 63

T.N.L.A.D., Vol XXXV, 1969, p.371. 64

M.L.A.D., Vol.XIII, 1968, p.404.

205

was extended up to college level on the basis of income.65

In law colleges,

three year under graduate system was introduced. Rs 20 lakhs was allotted to

technical education in 1968.66

Rs.6 lakhs was spent to start new colleges,

higher secondary schools and teacher training schools in 1968. 7,200 teachers

were trained to the institutions.67

Within 23 months ten Government Arts

Colleges and nine private Arts Colleges were opened in Tamil Nadu. 2056

boys schools and 381 girls schools were opened during the period of

C.N.Annadurai as Chief Minister.68

Scholarships were given to the students

of the scheduled caste and scheduled tribes and Rs.1,500 to the Backward

caste people for this purpose. Free education was given to the people below

Rs1,500 of their annual family income.69

31,459 primary schools were started

in the whole of Tamil Nadu.70

Home Guard

Home Guard was founded for the purpose of the Village Social Service

on 16 August 1967.71

Rs.10,000 was spent for the Home Guard works during

1967-68. A committee was formed with 1000 members in every district. Most

of the Home Guards worked for the public developments. Accordingly 2500

Home Guard workers in Noth Arcot, 2470 workers in Salem, 2467 workers in

Coimbatore, 2200 workers in Dharmapuri, 1200 workers in the Nilgiris district

joined in the social works. In September 1967, Mrs.Rani Annadurai,

M. Karunanidhi, V.R.Nedunchezian, K.A. Mathiazhagan and Mrs. Sathyavani

65

G.O.Ms.No.1055, Education, 24 April 1967. 66

T.N.L.A.D., Vol IX, 1968, p.185. 67

Ibid., p.190. 68

M.S.A.R., 1967-68, p.193. 69

Bharathy Manokaran R., op.cit.,,p.122. 70

M.L.C.D., Vol.LXXIX, 1969, p.290. 71

M.S.A.R., 1967, p.478.

206

Muthu joined as Home Guard Members and did their service in the

undeveloped area.72

Welfare Works

The Government allotted Rs.6 crores in 1968-69 to the depressed and

other backward classes for hostels, free dress, free land to house site, loan to

commercial purpose and other things.73

For the development of Tamil refugees

from Burma and Ceylon, the Government allotted Rs.3.3/4 crores in the

Nilgiris and North Arcot districts.74

300 acres were allotted to these refugees to

give them job opportunities and house site in North Arcot district. It also

allotted Rs.37 lakhs for house building construction works75

and for

improvement of slums in cities and rehabilitation of the slum dwellers in pucca

terraced buildings.76

Power Schemes

The Annadurai Government took hectic preparation for the generation of

Electricity through various schemes. Despite their efforts, shortage in the

industries and home consumption was confronted in the state. It was adjusted

through the purchase of neighbouring states. In 1967, 1370 Megawatt power

was used to Tamil Nadu industries. When the state could produce only 843

mw it met deficit of power through the purchase of power from Karnataka at

the rate of 4.5 paise per unit. Mysore also supplied power to the industries in

Tamil Nadu.77

The Government allotted Rs.11.75 crore to Ennore power

72

Madras Information, October 1967, p.24. 73

T.N.L.A.D.,Vol.IV, 1968, p.202. 74

Ibid., p.124. 75

Bharathy Manokaran R., op.cit., p.122. 76

Mathrubhutham,R., Dr. M.Kalaignar Karunanidhi, Chief Minister of Tamilnadu, Madras,

1989, p.8. 77

M.L.C.D., Vol.XX, 1968, p.550.

207

scheme and for Basin Bridge power schemes.78

Atomic power station was

started near Kalpakkam on 21 September 1967.79

Rs.4031 crores was allotted

to power schemes in 1968. The following were new schemes started during the

D.M.K. regime.

1. Ennore – 60mw power (first, second class unit)

2. Aliyaru power scheme – 60mw

3. Solaiyaru power scheme 11 unit – 25 mw

4. Kothaiyar power scheme 1 unit -60 mw

5. Kothaiyar power scheme 11 unit – 40 mw80

Veeranam project was started on 30 October 1967. Parambikulam –

Aliyar project was combined by both the Governments of Tamil Nadu and

Kerala State. For irrigation purposes, Government invested Rs.254.89 lakhs in

1967-68 and Rs.236.00 lakhs in 1968-69.81

The additional capacity of 200m.w.

of thermal power was increased to 1,475 mw by the end of 1969-70. In order

to face the rising demand of power many new projects were started.82

Industries under Annadurai

Industries form the important basis for the economic upliftment.

Annadurai Government allotted Rs.2 crores to the silk textile mills and83

best

owed licenses to 3 sugar factories in January 1969. An oil refinery factory was

started at a cost of Rs.44 crores at Manali.84

A Chemical Fertiliser Factory was

78

Bharathy Manokaran R., opcit., p.132. 79

Madras Information, 1967, p.28. 80

T.N.L.A.D., Vol. XVII, 1969, p.50. 81

Tamilnadu Information, 1969, p.26. 82

Official Report of Assembly Debates, 9 December 1968, p.550. 83

Ibid.,Vol.XVI, 1969, p.58. 84

Ibid.,p.55.

208

commissioned started in 1969 at a cost of Rs.60 crores at Tuticorin. Rs.6

crores were invested in the Alangulam Cement Factory.85

Rajapalayam Cement

Factory and Arakkonam Steel Factories were benefitted out of Governmenal

allotment. In 1968-69 the Government allotted Rs.48.40 lakhs to small scale

industries.86

Rs.15 lakhs have been earmarked for the provision of assistance to

the State Textile Corporation in1969-70.87

A steel plant at Salem based on

Kanjamalai and Nevyveli Lignite had been firmly established by Annadurai. A

provision of Rs.10 crores was set apart to open mine at Kanjamalai for

concentration and pelletisation plant.88

Transport and Communication

In order to create more transport facilities, the Annadurai Government

allotted Rs.180 lakhs to the road transport and communication departments in

1967. Rs.126 lakhs was spent for the communication in the 1968-69 budget.

Rs.47 lakhs was spent to the Madras Corporation and Rs.7.5 lakhs was spent to

other municipalities in Tami Nadu Government.89

In 1969 a provision of

Rs.155.58 lakhs was allotted and related to 15 States transport services. In it

Rs.31.5 lakhs was sanctioned in the form of loans and other grants for the

Corporation of Madras for the improvement of roads and construction of over

bridges in the city.90

Welfare works to Fishermen and others

For the welfare of the fishermen, the DMK Government earmarked

several funds. In 1968 the Government distributed trawlers and 175

85

Ibid.,.p.275. 86

M.L.C.D.,Vol.LXXIX, 1969, p.293. 87

Tamilnadu Information, 1969, p.25. 88

Ibid., p.37. 89

T.N.L.A.D. Vol.IX, 1968, p.187. 90

Tamilnadu Information, 1969, p.26.

209

mechanised boats to the through the Co-operative Federation of Fishermen

with financial assistance from the Agricultural Finance Corporation.91

The

mechanized boats had been matched by necessary improvement in landing and

berthing facilities provided at Cuddalore and Nagapattinam fishermen. Besides

these, the Government of India had sanctioned two major harbours in Madras

and Tuticorin at a cost of Rs.6.2 crores. Again the Government offered

Freezing Plant at Ennore which had started exporting prawns to United States

and Japan.92

For the development of the Madras City, Coovum River Alteration

Scheme was inaugurated on 17 September 1967 by allotting Rs.113.50 lakhs.93

Rs.108.72 lakhs was spent to water supply scheme in 1968-69. In 1969-70

Rs.2 crores was envisaged on water supply and drainage schemes to Madras

Corporation.94

Apart from these welfare measures, the Chief Minister had

announced some concession to the people on his birthday on 15th

September

1968. On that day an amount of Rs.3000/- was given to a Government servant

whose family saw the marriage of anyone of the members.95

Therefore in

appreciations of his talent and leadership qualities, the American Government

invited Annadurai in April 1968 to their Country. At the time of American trip,

he visited Italy, Rome, France, Britain, Japan, Singapore etc. and toured the

living places of Negroes. In appreciations of his talents, the Yale University

situated on New Seven City awarded him the title of “Sub fellowship”96

91

T.N.L.A.D., Vol .IX, 1968, p.248. 92

Tamilnadu Information, 1969, p.24. 93

T.N.S.A.R., 1967, p.478. 94

Ibid., p.27. 95

Parathasarathy, T.M., op.cit, p.468. 96

Bharathy Manokaran, R., op.cit., p.122.

210

Last days of Annadurai

The greatness of Annadurai and his social awareness reforms did not last

long as he was fallen in to the grip of sudden illness. Therefore the second

time, he visited America for the treatment of Cancer. However, after his return

he was unable to co-operate with his body condition and again admitted at

Adayar Hospital on 20 January 1969 and died on 2 February 1969. His

untimely death was a great loss and a severe blow to the people of Tamil

Nadu.97

After the death of Annadurai, M.Karunanidhi came to power.

Karunanidhi’s Ministry

Karunanidhi’s Cabinet consisted of the following members.98

V.R. Nedunchezhiyan, K.A. Mathialagan, Satyavanimuthu, N.V.Natarajan,

P.U. Shanmugam, S.Madhavan, S.J. Sadiq Basha, M.Muthuswamy,

S.P.Aditanar, K.V.Subbiah, O.P.Raman and K.Vezhavendan,

K.A. Mathialagan, M.Karunanidhi, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu continued in

office with the thirteen members mentioned above as his council of Ministers.

The Karunanidhi Ministry carried on a large number of social and

welfare schemes for the overall improvement of the backward and depressed

classes. In an attempt to create a situation for the economic upliftment of

women and for rural development, the Draividan political formation visualised

implementation of small and medium programmes. Yet, with an eye on

creating basic facilities in Madras, the Government introduced developmental

plans for the city.

97

Ganesan, . P.C., op.cit., p.89. 98

Madras Legislative Assembly Debates, Official Report, 1955-75, p.320.

211

The Government came forward to bring reforms for the people who

were living below the poverty line.99

The basic amenities provided to the slum

families were, neatly paved path ways and access ways, street lighting, water

supply through public fountains.100

Against untouchabilities also, the

Government brought legislations to curb the evil practice.101

In their aspect also

Tamil Nadu stood forefront in taking effective steps in the abolition of

untouchables.102

For the development of women, the D.M.K. party under

Karunanidhi the party advocated widow remarriage by offering various

incentives.

To employ them in fruitful ways, the party established cares homes.

Such measures explicitly suggested the broad mindedness of the DMK party.103

For the promotion of the Backward classes and birth control, the D.M.K.

Government under took yeoman services.104

Tamil Nadu was the first to

introduce a massive family planning programme officially. The family

planning programme aimed at reducing the birth rate and there was a sharp

decline in the death rate on account of better medical facilities and control of

communicable diseases, introduction of preventive public health measures and

the wide use of anti-bacterial drugs.105

The blindness was considered as a

burden to the society because the affected have lost their eye sight. The blind

persons were neglected totally in the rural areas and they had to find their

comforts in the lonely corners of their household. Dr. Karunanidhi Free Eye

99

T.N.S.A.R., 1972,-73, p.469. 100

Tamil Arasu, 16 July 1970, p.16. 101

Ibid., 1974, p.10. 102

Gowmarieswari.S. Kalaignarin Sathani Kalanjiam, (Tamil), Madras, 1997, p.8. 103

DMK Election Manifesto, 1975, p.301. 104

Tamil Arasu, 15 July 1970, p.17. 105

G.O.No.2 549, Health and Family Planning, 30 October 1970.

212

Camps benefitted over 42,039 such persons to have eyesight by availing free

medical aid in eye camps.106

The Government of Tamil Nadu launched a Government of India

sponsored Special Nutrition Programme in 1970 to combat mal-nutrition

among the vulnerable sections of the population in urban slums. Under this

programme, pregnant women, lactating mothers and pre-school children

belonging to the low income groups in these slum clearance areas, were given

annually a nutritious free food supplement for 30 days. Under this scheme

1,40,000 beneficiaries were covered in Madras.107

Besides the welfare reforms taken out by Karunanidhi, the Chief

Minister had taken measures to protect the Tamil language by passing the

Tamil Nadu official language Act in 1968 by which the implementation of the

Tamil scheme in all Government offices was intensified during 1968. In

accordance with the resolution of the Government on the language issue in

Legislature on 23 January 1968, intensive measures were taken up for

implementing the Tamil scheme in all the Government offices.108

The second

and third stages of the Tamil scheme have been introduced in all the offices of

the Heads of Departments with effect from 27 September 1967. The Director

of Tamil Development undertook extensive tours in the State and geared up the

implementation of the Tamil scheme in Government office.109

In accordance

with the policy of the Government to introduce Tamil medium in college

courses, thirty-one text books on science subjects for B.Sc. courses were

published during 1960-1970.110

106

Gowmarieswari.S., op.cit., p.7. 107

Tamil Arasu, Aug 1970, p.16. 108

T.N.S.A.R., 1969-70, pp.306-307. 109

Senthil Selvan, Kalaignar Oru Kalai Ilakkiyam, Madras,1970, p.8. 110

T.N.S.A.R., 1969-70, p.210.

213

Reform in school education

By imparting quality education, the Karunanidhi Government thought

that it was imperative to bestow buildings to the schools that would create

proper environments. Hence, needy school buildings were constructed through

Governmental subsidy,111

public donations and school management

participation. During 1970-71 the Government raised the grant from Rs.4,000

to Rs.17,000. In addition to Government allotment, money was raised though

lottery schemes and social development programmes.112

A regional Braille press

has been set up at Poonamalle under the administrative control of the principal.

The press undertook the printing in Braille and supplied textbooks in regional

languages – Tamil, Kannada, Telugu and Malayalam.113

This was a

Government of India project to serve the four southern states of Tamil Nadu,

Kerala, Mysore and Andhra Pradesh. Teachers from these states were trained

with a view to handle classes intended for the blind students.114

Development in Higher Education

In the Higher educational field too, the DMK Ministry carried out a

large number of reforms. A department for legal studies was created in 1970

with the purpose of the legal education. The first batch students of the newly

introduced B.G.C. Law course had appeared for this Examination in April

1970.115

The expansion of technical education during the earlier two plan

periods in Tamil Nadu had been quite phenomenal and the growth rate of

engineering has reached 3.7 per 1,00,000 of population in Tamil Nadu as

against the all India figure of 1-6. However, in the context of the widespread

111

T.N.S.A.R.,1970-71, p.220. 112

Tamil Arasu, 1September 1971, p.36. 113

G.O.No. 797, Health and family Planning, 8 April 1970. 114

T.N.S.A.R., 1970-71, pp.4-5. 115

G.O.No.530, Health, 14 March 1920, p.6.

214

unemployment among engineers, the general consents was that there should be

no further quantitative expansion of technical education and that future

schemes should aim at the consolidation of the existing institutions.116

The

Department of Technical Education decided to start job-oriented and

diversified courses to suit the needs of the country. The ultimate motive was to

find suitable job immediately for the degree and diploma holders on

completion of their courses.117

Next to technical education, measures were also taken to improve the

standard of education in arts and science colleges. The Director of Collegiate

Education was the administrative head of the Department of Collegiate

Education. The subjects of public Library and Adult Education were

transferred to the Directorate of School Education with effect from 23 October

1969. The post of the special officer for libraries was also transferred under the

control of the Director of School Education, Madras with effect from 23

October 1969. Government started six new arts colleges under their

management during 1969-70 as against ninety two in 1968-69 and the number

of students in Pre-University Course (P.U.C.) increased to 19,502 as against

3,784 in 1968-69. The total number of training colleges in the State continued

to be twenty-three and in it for Government seven and sixteen aided. There

were a total number of 1,82,792 students were admitted in the training

colleges.118

Public Transport

The public transport system during Karunanidhi Government was

steady with all-round expansion by the activities of the department and

116

G.O.No.616, Public, 17 March 1970, p.1. 117

Ibid., 22 December 1964, p.3. 118

Popular Ministers in Tamil Nadu 1971-74, p.267.

215

improvement in its services. It’s strength had been increased from March 1969

to March 1970. The peak hours services were continued to be operated to ease

the congestion. The department earned Rs.12,59,87,270.63 on sale of tickets

during 1970. The first Double Deckar was introduced in Madras -

Tiruchirappalli route on 17 April 1969. The first night-express service was

introduced in the Madras-Madurai route on 1 May 1969. Separate buses for

boy and girl students were operated for the convenience of the college students

and teachers.119

Road Transport

During these annual plans from 1966-67 to 1968-69, a sum of Rs.500

lakhs was spent on road development and the tentative outlay of the fourth plan

for this work amounted to 1,503 lakhs. The road system in Tamil Nadu as on

1971 consisted of a total length of 66,929 kilometers of which more than two-

thirds formed surfaced roads.120

While 1,804 kilometers of road came under

National Highways whose maintenance was the responsibility of the Central

Government, the remaining 65,125 kilometers of road come under State

Highways and District Municipal and Panchayat roads.121

Dairy development

During the year 1969-70, the Dairy Development Department continued

to lay special emphasis to augment milk collection from rural areas, to ensure a

dependable source of subsidiary income to the rural community and also to

ensure supply of good milk at reasonable prices to the cities. To achieve these

objectives, two major departments of milk projects – one at Madras and the

119

Tamil Arasu, November 1975, p.64. 120

The Perspective Plan for TamilnaduTowards a Better Transport Network, 1972-88,

p.21176. 121

T.N.S.A.R.,1971-72, p.37.

216

other at Madurai and a number of other dairies owned and operated by co-

operative milk supply societies were augmented.122

Agricultural reforms

The Karunanidhi regime witnessed failure of seasonal rains and acute

scarcity of drinking water all over the State. Therefore the Government

sanctioned a crash programme of drought relief works for providing drinking

water supply to ninety-four plants in various districts of the State at a total

estimated cost of Rs.110.62 lakhs.123

Under this programme water supply was

effected to the affected places by extending supply from the existing water

supply main by putting down bore wells, tube wells and deepening the existing

wells and providing new wells etc.124

In the field of agriculture the

following schemes were continued during 1971.

Under the special minor irrigation programme, Tamil Nadu Government

spent in 1973-74 as much Rs.409.92 lakhs. The target for the year 1974 was

727 works creating new ayacut of 25,750 acres, besides stabilising irrigation

for 61,250 acres of existing ayacut.125

With the allotted amount of Rs409.92

lakhs for the special minor irrigation programme for 1973-74, as many as 725

works were targeted to the completed creating a new ayacut of 25.750 acres

besides stabilizing irrigation for 61.250 acres of existing ayacut.126

Electricity to Villages

Tamil Nadu Electricity Board undertook the stupendous task of carrying

power to villages in particular to pump sets and it continued to have a lead over

122

T.N.S.A.R.,1974-75, p.20. 123

T.N.S.A.R.,1975, p.4. 124

Ibid., pp.258-59. 125

T.N.S.A.R., 1974-75, p.25. 126

Popular Ministers in Tamilnadu 1921-74, p.18.

217

all other states in rural electrification. Preference was invariably given in

extending supply to agricultural pump sets which tended to increase food

production. During 1969-70, electricity was extended to 10.016 villages and

hamlets and 57,641 agricultural pump sets were connected with power in the

Board’s area. There were about 42,229 towns, villages and hamlets which

enjoyed the benefits of electricity at the end of 1970.127

Industries

The Government of India, with an investment of over Rs.370 crores in

their projects played a crucial role in the industrial development of the state.

These projects have largely been responsible for the generation of considerable

industrial activity.128

The Integral Coach Factory at Perambur responsible to the

growing need for the improved types of railway coaches with better amenities.

The heavy pressure boiler project at Tiruchirappalli, perhaps the largest

technical engineering workshop in the State, specializes in the manufacture of

steam generators and boiler house equipments. The Small Arms Factory at

Tiruchirappalli and the Heavy Vehicles Factory at Avadi cater to the defense

needs of the country.129

Salem Steel Plant under Karunanidhi

During Karunanidhi’s period, the most important of the projects

established in the State in the public sector was the Salem Steel Plant, which

has been approved by the Government of India for implementation during the

Fourth Plan period. This project paved the way for a further development of a

variety of engineering industries in the State.130

Following this, a steel casting

127

T.N.S.A.R.,1969-70, p.230. 128

Ibid., p.286. 129

Tamil Arasu, 1 July 1970, p.27 . 130

T.N.S.A.R., 1972-73, p.34.

218

plant with an initial annual capacity of 50,000 tonnes of steel billets was being

established at Arakonam. The plant was estimated to cost Rs.6.53 crores and

was commissioned in 1971.131

The State’s first cement plant in the public

sector was commissioned at Alangulam near Rajapalayam. The rated annual

capacity of the plan was four lakhs tones initially.132

State Autonomy

M.Karunanidhi as Chief Minister appealed to the Central Government

that implementation of changes in the Indian constitution would form the basis

for strengthening and increasing its prosperity and that it would contribute to

develop the languages of states to preserve and protect the different cultures, to

foster good relations among the states to promote healthy relationship between

the state and the Centre and to improve the economic condition of India.133

Subsequently in 1971, in the election manifesto, the DMK announced that

though the constitution of India is described as a federal one, the balance is

more tilted towards the Centre, and hence the State is not able to function in the

administrative and financial spheres. Only powers as are necessary for the

Centre to preserve the strength of India should be assigned to the states,

without impairing the ideal of a strong India and for this purpose, the

constitution should be amended. The DMK would seek support on an All India

level to the movement for state Autonomy.134

After having consolidated its

position to run the Government again, the DMK demanded state autonomy and

a federation type of Government at the centre.135

For that the resolution was

passed by the DMK General Council urging the Union Government to amend

131

Tamil Arasu, 1 July 1972, p.12. 132

T.N.S.A.R.,1969-71, p.52, 133

Tamil Arasu, 1973, p.20. 134

T.N.S.A.R.,1971-72, p.221. 135

Ibid., p.230.

219

the constitution so as to provide for a federal rule (cootatchi) at the Central and

Autonomy (Suyatchi) for the states. But this was rejected by the Prime

Minister who was also the leader of the congress (I).136

Assembly Election and New Legislations

After the fourth General Elections, the first meeting of the Assembly

was held on 15 March 1967 and therefore, its term was to expire 14 March

1972.137

But Cabinet recommended for the dissolution of the Assembly with

effect from 5 January 1971 seeking a fresh mandate from the people. The

Cabinet consisted of the following members138

, V.R. Nedunchezhiyan,

K. Anbazhagan, N.V. Natarajan, Satyavanimuthu, P.U. Shanmugam,

S.Madhavan, S.J. Sadiq Basha, S.P. Aditanar, A.P. Dharmalingam, K.Rajaram,

O.P.Raman, S.Ramachandran and M. Kannappan.

Sethu Samudram Project

Soon after assuming power the DMK Government under Karunanidhi

gave much preference to the Sethu Samudram project. The object of the Sethu

Samudram project was to connect the Gulf of Mannar with the Palk Bay in

order to shorten and improve the sea route between theWest and the East coasts

of India. Through this canal, ships up to 30 draft can navigate with safety and

avoid going in a round about route around and south of Ceylon, which is

vulnerable to adverse weather conditions.139

The Government of India carried out the final investigations regarding

the viability of the scheme in May 1965. With the assistance of a special

Engineering circle, Chief Minister Karunanidhi forwarded his report to the

136

Ibid., 24 November 1970. 137

Popular Ministers in Tamilnadu 1921-74, p.27. 138

Report of the Fifth General Election in Tamilnadu, 1971, p.26. 139

Tamil Arasu, 5 July 1971, p.41.

220

Government of India in June 1968. R. Natarajan, I.A.S., submitted a separate

report indicating that the Sethu Samudram project was economically viable and

technically feasible.140

Parambikulam- Azhiyar Project

The next important concentration of the DMK Government was the

Parambikulam - Azhiyar project, a multi-valley project that contemplated the

utilisation of water and power resources of the inter-state rivers in the Western

Ghats of India for the benefit of Tamil Nadu and Kerala State. The project

integrated eight west- flowing rivers by constructing reservoirs and diversion

works across them and inter-connecting them by means of tunnels. The

estimated cost of the project was Rs.6,753 lakhs.141

Solayar Dam

Following the Azhiyar project, Karunanidhi Government concentrated

upon Solayar Dam. Accordingly a dam across the Solayar River within Tamil

Nadu was constructed for storing the surplus flows in the river after meeting

the requirements of the Kerala. This was the highest dam project and the

height being 345 feet.

The DMK Ministry had completed the work of inter-connecting tunnel

(8,390 feet long) between Solayar and Parambikulam Valleys and other works

completed relating to Parambikulam Dam, Parambikuilam Tunnel, Turacadavu

Dam, Sarkarapatty Tunnel, Aliyar Dam, Tirumurthi Dam and Contour Canal.

Tekkadi Dam was augmented as per the decisions taken along with the

discussion of Chief Minister of Kerala and Union Minister for Irrigation in

1969.142

140

Ibid., p.42. 141

T.N.S.A.R., 1969-70, p.228. 142

Ibid., p.229.

221

Tussle with MGR

Karunanidhi’s control over the Party was challenged by Maruthur

Gopalan Ramachandran143

best known by his initials M.G.R. one of the south

India’s most popular film stars. M.G.R. with his aura of Cinematic glamour,

personality and image of philanthropist, managed to sway the people away

from the fold of the DMK.144

Despite MGR’s significance in attracting voters to the DMK, Annadurai

had given MGR no formal party posts and did not include him in his cabinet,

on the argument that MGR was fully occupied with his movie career. As

Karunanidhi was not the undisputed party leader145

as Annadurai had been, he

was more wary of potential competitors, none more popular than MGR. The

exact reasons contributing to the decline of friendship between Karunanidhi

and Ramachandran were yet to be publicly made known.146

Although apparently unrelated to intraparty conflicts, the issue of

prohibition is also mentioned as a possible bone of contention between 143

Thandavan, R., op.cit., pp.47-48. MGR was born in a white collar professional Malayali

family that was impoverished by the death of MGR’s father while MGR was still a baby.

The town of Kumbakonam where his family lived through much of his childhood is

located in the most intricately stratified part of Tamil Nadu, is the Caveri valley. MGR’s

early experience urged people to accept claims that he intimately understood the plight of

the poor and helped him depict the typical signs of dominance in Tamil Society. Yet his

imposition as Malayaee from a formerly white collar family placed him somewhat beyond

the pale of the caste and class jealousies central to plebeian Tamil society. This helped his

portray himself as a paternal arbiter of such jealousies. His family’s poverty played in

films MGR became the most popular Tamil film actor from 1950s to the mid 1970s MGR

came in contact with many Dravidianists. He met Annadurai and become closely

associated with all he had, with his personal chairman, helped with Karunanidhi, who was

the script writer. Karunanidhi helped to bring MGR over to the DMK from Congress.

MGR primarily addressed his public through his films from 1945 MGR was performing

important roles for the DMK. He was the propagator of the DMK ideals. MGR’s films

symbolize the Congress as a dictator and eroded the affection and faith between the

Congress leaders and the people. Also MGR had been the backbone of the DMK’s

financial strength. He had also organised well over 20,000 manrams with politic cultural

purposes in his name all over Tamil Nadu. In the name of MGR, DMK got more votes. 144

Narenda Subramanian, op.cit., p.244. 145

Hindustan Times, 25 October 1972. 146

Merun Jones, MGR: Balanced and unbelievable, Delhi, 1979, p.32.

222

Karunanidhi and MGR.147

Prohibition had existed in Tamil Nadu for thirty

three years when the DMK Government decided to scrap it in its efforts to

mobilize additional funds for developmental activities. Abolishing prohibition

was complicated by the adament opposition of Kamaraj, by the repeated

support the late C.N. Annadurai had given to prohibition and the opposition of

the two electoral partners of the DMK the Muslim League and the Tamil Arasu

Kazhagam.148

Inside the DMK General Council, MGR had opposed the lifting

of the dry law. It was widely believed that Ramachandran’s opposition

stemmed from his fear that the poor and the lower middle class, who spent their

limited entertainment funds on movies, might substitute liquor for films.149

Not satisfied with the victory obtained on the issue of the prohibition, it

was alleged that Karunanidhi had also sought to weaken MGR’s position

within the cinema industry by trying to launch his son, M.K.Muthu as a new

star and projected him as another MGR. In this endeavour Karunanidhi went to

the extent to taking up his old job and wrote the script for Muthu’s film.150

In

fact Muthu had copied all the mannerisms of MGR including the hair style.

Karunanidhi had also arranged for the sprouting up of Muthu Rasigar

Manrams. Even before Muthu’s film was released in many places, he tried to

convert the MGR Manrams into Muthu Manrams.151

When MGR protested

against such moves. Karunanidhi in a clever move, made an appeal to dissolve

all Muthu Manrams. The point was that if his son’s fan clubs were dissolved

the next step would be to scrap the Manrams of MGR too.152

Also Karunanidhi

147

The Hindu, 2 October 1972. 148

Ibid., 11 October 1972. 149

Thandavan., P., op.cit., p.64. 150

Muthu’s First Film, Pillaiyo Pillai, September, 1972. 151

Patriot, 27 September 1972. 152

The Hindu, 2 October 1972.

223

supported Shivaji Ganesan (another movies star belonging to the Congress) in

certain cinema ventures.153

As the treasurer to the DMK, MGR had striven to perform his duties

without being a ‘yes’ man to the ‘Dictator’ of the Party. MGR wanted proper

accounting of the huge funds of the party and wanted to know the sources of

such income. What MGR asked for the removal of certain money bag’s

influences over the party and the proper maintenance of party finances which

had grown enormously.154

MGR was kept in the Dark about the amount

collected at the Madurai Party Conference in 1972.155

Felling this neglect

MGR had called for the arrest of dictatorial trends and personality cults

in the Party in his Pongal Day message of 14 January 1972.156

Emergence of ADMK

The emergence of the ADMK was the outcome of factional quarrels

within the DMK when Intra-party conflicts, rigidity and factions began to

appear. Whatever be the reason the right time had arrived for an open

confrontation between the organisational forces headed by Karunanidhi and the

forces of non-political personalities symbolised by MGR. The clash had

ideological, organisational and personality dimensions and all rolled into one.

MGR wanted to focus the public attention on something concrete and visible.

And he rightly perceived and attacked Karunanidhi’s faction’s Achilles heel-

corruption.157

On October 8, 1972, MGR, while addressing a meeting,

organised to celebrate the late Anna’s sixty-fourth birth anniversary, demanded

that all DMK town, taluk and district secretaries to disclose their financial

153

Thandavan, op.cit., p.53. 154

The Hindu, 30 September 1972. 155

Narendra Subramanian, op.cit., pp.244-245. 156

Thandanvan, op.cit., p.54. 157

Ibid.,p.55.

224

assets. People were eager to know how bunglows and cars came to the

ministers and their relatives after the DMK came to power.158

MGR criticised

the DMK Government for lifting prohibition and said that if his views were not

given due thought at the upcoming meeting of the DMK General Council, he

would not hesitate to go to the public to gain their support for his demand.

MGR’s statement was clearly a transgression of party discipline, a

violation of the party’s policy of democratic centralism and a direct challenge

to Karnanidhi.159

Immediately, 12 district Secretaries of the party and 8

Ministers, who were members of Executive Committee, assembled in the Sate

Guest House at Madras on 9 October 1978 and resolved for the suspension of

MGR in the interest of party discipline and party ideals.160

The resolution was

submitted to the General Secretary V.R.Nedunchezhian and the President,

M.Karunanidhi. Then Nedunchezhian suspended MGR from all party posts

and even from the primary membership of the DMK. This move was intended

to stop MGR from attending the General Council meeting on 12 October 1972.

But when people heard this decision (Crowds of MGR fans) ran through city

street attacking DMK flags and pictures of Karunanidhi. Violent incidents,

agitations and protest throughout Tamil Nadu had paralysed the DMK

administration for well over a fortnight.161

On 15 October 1972 MGR announced his decision to form a new

political party in deference to the wishes of his supporters of 20,000 Rasigar

Manrams. On 18 October 1972 MGR christened his party the Anna Dravida

Munnetra Kazagam.162

He declared that his party would faithfully follow the

158

Indian Express, 28 October 1972. 159

The Hindu, 30 October 1972. 160

The Hindu, 11 October 1972. 161

Fortnightly Report, 20 November 1972. 162

The Hindu, 15 October 1972.

225

principles and politics laid down by the Late Annadurai. By the end of October

1972 the ADMK began to functions as a viable political party. The formation

of the new party had an electrifying effect on the masses of Tamil Nadu. MGR

disclosed that he was expelled from the party because he asked for the accounts

of the party.163

It is true that the intra party factions had disrupted the

ideological and organisational leadership and programmatic energies of the

party. The party was renamed the ‘All India Anna Dravida Munnetra

Kazhagam’ on 12 September 1976.164

The party contested the sixth general

elections to the Lok Sabha in 1977 and won 18 out of the 20 seats contested.

In the same year in the election to the Legislative Assembly, the party obtained

126 seats out of 234 seats and obtained power.165

Thus, the end of Congress administration in Tamil Nadu marked a

turning point in the political progress of the Tamils. In spite of the helplessness

of the situation, the people generally felt that the continued congress misrule

was responsible for all the ills of the time. The DMK Party gave high promises

and came with the expectation of the masses. The general election of 1967

brought the DMK party in the State Assembly a thunderous majority which

ultimately led to form the Ministry under the headship of C.N.Annadurai. After

the death of Annadurai in 1969 Karunanidhi functioned as Chief Minister of

Tamil Nadu from 1969 till a new dominant opposition party emerged. This

was due to the split in the DMK in 1972 and the foundation of new party, the

AIADMK under MGR.

163

Thandavan, op.cit., p.59. 164

Jegathirakshakan,S., MGR – A Phenomenon, Madras, 1984, pp.49-50. 165

Popular Ministers in Tamil Nasdu, 1921-74, pp.28-29.